Method of making paper straws



March 9, 1937. L. LA VECK METHOD OF MAKING PAPER STRAWS Filed Oct. 30,19:5

Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to methods for making paper straws, the termbeing applied to relatively short lengths of tubular material of smallinternal diameter used to drink milk or beverages by suction frombottles or glasses.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing strawsfrom paper strips transversely rolled with suitable adhesive, asdistinguished from like articles formed by spirally winding ribbon-likepieces of material. It is also an object of this invention to fashionthe straws individually and without the employment of an arbor or othersimilar device for creating a small tube, whereby it is believed themanufacturing of such goods may be expedited and the cost thereofreduced, at the same time turning out a superior, salable andserviceable drinking tube.

Of the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 represents a diagrammaticarrangement of rollers and associated devices comprising one form ofapparatus for producing this invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates on a reduced scale the general shape of the strips ofpaper employed.

Throughout the drawing and description the same number is used to referto the same part.

Considering Fig. 1, a suitable machine frame I carries a bracket 2,which in turn supports a strip holding box 3, containing a stack ofpaper strips of substantially twice the dimensions, but of the likeshape shown in Fig. 2. The paper strips are marked 4. The paper of whichthe strips are made, should be of the proper texture. The best resultsare obtained by the use of a chemical pulp paper well sized. When wateris applied to one surface of the paper it releases the fibres and theyexpand, which causes the paper to curl or curve, and if the grain is thelong way of the paper it will form a tube or take a substantiallytubular shape. From the box the strips of paper are fed one by one by arubber coated drum 5. and each strip descends upon the drum 6 thesurface of which is of sponge rubber. In contact with the drum 6 is adrum or roller 7 in a tank 8, provided as shown with a heater [0 andcontaining a fluid 9. The applicant does not limit himself to any onekind of paper or grade thereof, or to one kind of adhesive substance.The applicant has made straws successfully from glassine paper, and hasalso used ordinary flour paste. There is customarily about ten per centof adhesive in the water in the tank. The wheel 7 takes the fluid fromthe tank and applies it to the rubber sponge exterior of the drum 6. Thestripis caught upon the wet surface of the drum and is thus fullymoistened on one surface. The

strip curves by reason of the applied fluid and takes the shapesillustrated in the drawing, Fig. 1, and is deposited by the drum 6 onthe travelling belt II on drums I2 and Hi. The curling strip is carriedalong by the belt I l and pressed and rolled against the slanting bar I4whereby the strip is rolled into tubular form and is made somewhatsmaller in diameter as shown. From the belt H a scraper I5 directs thepartly formed straw downwardly upon the drum Hi. This is the waxing rolland is revoluble in the tank I! in the wax l8 kept in fluid condition bythe heater l 9. The applicant reserves the right to use any suitable waxthat is now on sale for the purpose. From the waxing drum IS a scraper20 delivers the waxed tubes to the traveling belt 2| on rollers 22 and23, and each tube is further rolled and pressed by the belt 2| againstthe stationary guide and presser 24. The now completed straws are takenoff at the turn of the belt 2| and deposited upon a receiving shelf ordrier 25.

Applicant does not limit himself to any particular shape, material orsize of the rollers and belts and associated devices described asconstituting the apparatus illustrated.

The steps of this method invention will now be understood.

First the strips are moistened on one surface, and thereby caused tocurl or curve transversely. There is then applied to the curving stripboth pressure and a rolling movement by the inclined presser guide, andthen the partly completed tube is waxed and further rolled and pressedinto its final and perfected shape. No arbor or like is employed.

Having now described this invention and the manner of carrying themethod out, I claim:-

A method of making paper straws from separate strips of paper relativelynarrow with respect to the length of the strips, consisting in advancingthe strips individually with the length of the strips crosswise withrespect to the direction of subsequent movement of the strips,subjecting the strips to a transverse rolling operation wherein duringthe movement of the strip before the actual rolling takes place eachstrip is treated with a heated fluid on one face causing the strip tobecome transversely curved in the direction it is to be rolled, rollingthe strips without internal support in a horizontal direction intolengthwise tubular form, subjecting the tubes to a gradually contractingrolling operation to reduce the diameter thereof, applying heated wax tothe tubes, and further rolling the tubes.

LOUIS LA VECK.

